Thursday, February 16, 2012

While my kids enjoy being loud and active, there are also many times that they (and I) prefer quiet, calm activities.

Whether they need a way to wind down after a morning at school, something to occupy their time during a ride in the car, or just to stave off boredom when the weather keeps us indoors, being able to play a game that keeps them entertained and happy is something I appreciate.

Fortunately, that's where Find It Games comes in with their line of innovative, intriguing and addicting hide-and-seek games. The most recent addition? One that really has my kids excited about searching for a variety of animals, tools, equipment and more that they know and love that is found in On the Farm.

Founded by a husband and wife team in 2003, Find It Games has grown from a fun family idea at the dinner table into into a name that is known around the world. Perfect for at home or on-the-go, these fun and innovative games are just the thing for the car, waiting for an appointment or just a quiet moment relaxing in a chair, as there is nothing more required than an imagination and a love for a good search.

By combining a creative container and a multitude of little shapes and figurines, kids (and adults) are entertained quickly and easily just by turning the container over and over while looking for the next brightly-colored cute piece on their list.

After having already been introduced to Find It Games last summer with their Veggie Tales game and then again a few months later with their Starry Night version, as soon as I heard that they had debuted On The Farm, I knew that it would be a hit.

With the kids eagerly chomping at the bit ("It looks like a farm! I see a horse! Open it!"), we had this cute silo-shaped container out of the packaging in no time — thank goodness for one toy that doesn't require 20 minutes and power tools to remove it from the box.

I love that Find It Games thought to make this version in a silo, as it not only fits the theme perfectly, but makes it easy for small hands to hold, twist, turn, shake and more. After all, how else are they going to uncover all 42 of the objects from within the bright and colorful pellets?

On The Farm treasures to discover include a tractor, windmill and a corn stalk along with a variety of furry friends and livestock such as a horse, duck, cow and chicken. In order to make it easy to keep track of which items you've found and which pieces are left, Find It Games includes a 50-sheet tear-off pad listing them all...

...as well as conveniently putting them all right on the bottom of the game itself.

Although you can't check off the items from the list on the bottom as you find them (maybe you could cross them off with a dry erase marker?), I still love that they are printed there to make it easy to have the full game contained in itself. Grab it and go and you're ready on a plane, at an appointment or just when you want to know what to look for but not necessarily keep track.

But whether in the car or an easy chair, we've had a lot of fun with On the Farm! Even though it is designed for ages 8+, the kids have returned to this silo over and over to take another look for yet another object and they haven't once gotten frustrated — instead they love the challenge and the thrill of the hunt (I have to admit that I really do, too)!

Big Sister E is also a big fan of the ladder printed on the silo!

With such a simple, yet captivating concept, Find It Games' hidden object games are a great way to encourage curiosity and learning without any pressure of winning or competition (unless you want to add that in, of course). Retailing for $23, this is a game that makes a wonderful gift or to have at home... and trust me, you'll want to pick it up to search for one more elusive items time and time again!

In addition to their line of games, Find It Games also has a brand new collection of puzzles that take the idea behind their unique cylinders and spread them into 300 pieces. These three new jigsaw puzzles, under a collection called Pieces of History, mimic the "finding" activity of the award-winning and well-recognized contained adventures from Find It Games and feature historical events that are familiar to adults as well as children.

With original and commissioned artwork on each one, Pharaoh's Egypt, Parade of Animals and On Dry Ground offer an instant lesson to users as they read the parchment-like list of hidden items to be found once the pieces are put in place. What a great opportunity for families to share time together in an educational and fun way!

Also designed for ages 8+, the Pieces of History puzzles retail for $13 and can be found along with the hidden object games in stores like Target, Barnes & Noble and Hallmark and online from Amazon.com, AreYouGame.com and, of course, FindItGames.com.

And, thanks to the generosity of Find It Games, one person will soon be on their way to an entertaining treasure hunt as well, because...

One lucky person will win their choice of On the Farm or any of the three Pieces of History jigsaw puzzles from Find It Games!

To enter to win: Visit Find It Games and leave me a comment telling me another of their innovative items that you would like to own (other than those mentioned above).

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you Like Find It Games on Facebook.1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

#WIN an On the Farm hidden object game or Pieces of History puzzle from Find It Games! http://bit.ly/w7NJVi @thxmailcarrier #giveaway

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on March 8th at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning and the giveaway sponsor is solely responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Find It Games for providing On the Farm for me to review as well as the choice between the game and the puzzles for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.